I was at an antiques show yesterday and one of the booths had stuff in piles on tables, most of it junk. There were a lot of old clamps and pipe wrenches but what caught my eye was a drill. I saw it was pretty old, so I figured 40s. It looked cool so I purchased it for $15. The specs aren't great, only 1.75 amps and 400RPM and the cord is completely rotted. This thing is huge and heavy. Only forward, no reverse on this drill.





Once I got home, I started looking into it and realized it was probably not from the 40s as the ones from the 40s did not have Art Deco styling. I found one "Special 1/2" Drill" on eBay that had a much higher serial number than mine but was a different, evidently newer model. I then kept on searching about old Black & Decker drills and found this ad:



This one was different than the one I found on eBay but closer in appearance to it than mine. This one advertises that it has a trigger guard while mine did not but the newer one did. That ad was from 1927. My educated guess is that this drill is from before 1927.

Black & Decker created the first portable electric drill back in 1916. I have contacted them hoping for more information but I doubt I will get this sort of help through their email service.

This drill is missing the top handle and needs a new cord and wiring. I hope to be able to test if the motor is still good but I am going to service it before I attempt that. I may ask the representative if those parts are available

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

I've got a similar one.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Might want to email black and Decker. Model looks like a DW and they just might tell you the years of production. Include the serial number. This may be the first DW model as from what it looks like in a quick search DW is still used by them as a model designation but is followed by numbers with it.

Mine has an incredible amount of torque. Last year I was using it with a paddle to mix up some concrete floor leveler. My friend had it in a 5 gallon bucket without enough water for the leveler and the paddle seized up in the mud. My friend went spinning in a full circle with the bucket on the end of the drill flying thru the air. So be careful with it. It could break a wrist in the right circumstances.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Very nice w123fanman!

If the motor is no good, could it be rewound?

The reason I ask is because think there still is a 1960's drill in Opa's garage that love the metal case and how heavy that drill is.

The oldest I have is a plastic case Black and Decker, but the chuck states "Made in West Germany". Now you got me thinking should check and see if any information.

Oh, and got the drill from a good friend who said just his Father's old junk tools. Mentioned it had a keyed chuck and I stated like having a key. Best drill I have had, though don't put it through as much as the prior (works but throws blue sparks and smoke).

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

kerry is spot on!!! That thing will be a torque monster, be careful of wrists etc. Is there a place to attach a pipe for leverage to manage the torque?

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

I have a newer one that belonged to my grandpa who worked in the Studebaker factory. Yeah, It'll hurt you bad if you aren't careful!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There is but the pipe is missing. I am considering trying to remake it at the GT Invention Studio if I cannot find one online. I plan to rewire this drill and service the motor. Hopefully it is in good enough shape for basic service but I will take it to a rebuild shop if need be.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

I got an email back from Black & Decker, the rep said he didn't find anything about it in his computer. I may have to try some other way of contacting them, as even if they still had records of their early products, they probably aren't digitized.

I was able to disassemble the drill most of the way today but I wasn't able to service it. I cleaned most of the old grease out of the transmission (which is just two gears) and checked the condition of the brushes. The brushes still had some life and I am hopefully the drill will work as the motor spins freely, the bushings and bearings are in great shape, and the gears show no signs of wear. I also figured out how to access most of the wiring. The wires going to the motor itself looked to be in serviceable shape though I think I want to replace them anyway. Problem is I don't know how to get the shaft with the armature out. Are these usually pressed in, requiring a puller to get them apart?

I started to clean up the exterior some but I didn't get to do much. I just want to get the oil and dirt off, I'm not going to do anything beyond that.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.

I see it can run on DC too. Probably because of the current wars back then between AC and DC.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

I found a date on it while cleaning it up: Patented February 23, 1926. IIRC, the next model came out in 1927 so this was probably from 1926.

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Current: 1975 450SEL, 83 300D, 88 Yugo GVX, 90 300D OM603 swap, 91 F150 4.6 4v swap, 93 190E Sportline LE 3.0L M104 swap, 93 190E Sportline LE Megasquirt, 03 Sprinter, 06 E500 4Matic wagon.